HB 1238 now Act 10 of 2017 Limits the
Continuous Tethering of Dogs in Pennsylvania

WHAT DOES “CHAINING” OR “TETHERING” OF DOGS MEAN?

These terms refer to the practice of fastening a dog to a stationary object or stake, usually in the owner’s backyard, as a means of keeping the animal under control. These terms do not refer to the periods when an animal is walked on a leash.

WHY IS TETHERING INHUMANE?

Dogs are naturally social animals who thrive on interaction with people and other animals. A dog kept continuously chained suffers immense psychological damage. An otherwise friendly and docile dog, if rarely taken off a chain, becomes neurotic, anxious and often aggressive.

In many cases, the necks of chained dogs become raw and covered with sores, the result of improperly fitted collars and the dogs’ constant yanking and straining to escape confinement.Dogs have even been found with collars embedded in their necks, the result of years of neglect at the end of a chain.

Tanner came in to Animal Care Sanctuary in East Smithfield, PA at 10 yrs. old, emaciated, no muscle mass, barely able to walk. After spending ten years on the end of a chain, Tanner was adopted and spent his last few months in the comforts of a loving home.

WHO SAYS TETHERING IS INHUMANE?

The Humane Society of the United States, the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association and an increasing number of state and federal agencies have positions against chronic chaining.

THE LEGISLATION PLACES REASONABLE LIMITATIONS ON

TETHERING/CHAINING BY:

Banning tethering a dog outside without providing for its basic needs as defined under Section 5532.

Creates a rebuttable presumption the dog has not been neglected as defined in section 5532 if:

The dog is not a victim of cruelty under another section of the animal cruelty code.

The dog is tethered for no more than 9 cumulative hours within a 24 hour period.

The tether is secured to a well-fitting collar with a swivel and by a tether of no less than 10 feet or three times the length of the dog.

The dog has access to water and an area of shade.

The dog is not tethered for longer than 30 minutes when the temperature is over 90 degrees or under 32 degrees.

All of the factors above must be met in order for the presumption that a dog has not been neglected to apply. If the dog is not tethered in a manner that satisfies these requirements, a law enforcement officer may file neglect charges.

The law creates a rebuttable presumption that the dog has been neglected if any of the following are present:

Excessive waste in the tethered area.

Open sores or wounds on the dog’s body.

The use of a tow or log chain or choke, pinch, prong, or chain collar.

This legislation is a step in the right direction for dogs kept outside. Animals must have access to sanitary shelter which preserves body heat and keeps it dry. Levels of offense are based on the extent of bodily injury to the animal.

Luzerne County Severe Weather Ordinance

Effective Date of this Ordinance was March 1, 2017

An Ordinance of the Luzerne County Council Providing for the Time and Manner Dogs May Be Outside During Severe Weather Events.

WHEREAS, Luzerne County is a home rule county with a Home Rules Charter adopted under the provisions of the Home Rule and Optional Plans Government Law; and

WHEREAS, the Luzerne County Council deems it advisable for the public health and welfare of the County to provide prohibitions on the times and manners dogs are left outside within Luzerne County during severe weather events; and

WHEREAS, the County Council desires to adopt the following provisions related to the treatment of dogs within the County;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED AND ENACTED BY THE LUZERNE COUNTY COUNCIL as follows:

Section 1. Prohibitions.

It shall be unlawful for any person to leave any dog outside and unattended during any period in which a severe weather warning has been issued for Luzerne County by the National Weather Service.

It is unlawful for any person to leave any dog outside and unattended for a continuous period of time greater than thirty (30) minutes if the temperature during such period remains either entirely:

Below twenty-six (26) degrees Fahrenheit; or

Above ninety-two (92) degrees Fahrenheit.

For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply.

“Outside” shall mean the dog is subject to the weather and elements, which expressly includes, but not be limited to, a dog in securely fenced-in yard, a dog in a kennel, or a dog tethered or tied-out. The dog shall be considered “outside” regardless of access to an outdoor doghouse or similar structure.

“Unattended” shall mean any dog left outside either when the owner is inside the house or building, or the owner has left the house or building.

Section 2. Officials Authorized to Enforce this Ordinance.

Pursuant to Section 5511 of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, the provisions of this Ordinance shall be enforced by the agents of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Luzerne County (“SPCA’). The SPCA agents shall have all powers and responsibilities necessary to enforce this Ordinance as provided herein along with all those powers vested in such an agent under the Pennsylvania Animal Cruelty Law.

In addition, all other officials with the authority and jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of Section 5511 of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes may enforce this Ordinance.**( This includes any or all Luzerne County Local Police Departments, State Police or other Luzerne County Humane Society Police Officers.)

Section 3. Enforcement Measures.

Enforcement shall begin by providing notification to any owner or occupant of any premises in violation of this Ordinance, either personally Or by posting such notice upon the premises that such owner must begin to act in compliance with this Ordinance within one ( 1 ) day of receipt of such notice.

Upon the failure of such owner or occupant to bring his or her tethering situation into compliance with this Ordinance within such period of time, enforcement officials are authorized to enter upon such premises and to temporarily remove such dog from the property.

Any removed dog will be held at the Luzerne County SPCA.

The authorized individual who removes the dog from the premises shall provide notice to the owner or occupant of the date, time and reason for removal, and where the dog is taken.

Prior to any hearing regarding the violation, such dog owner may regain possession of any confiscated dog prior to a hearing when the following conditions are met:

Providing proof of ownership;

Payment of all costs associated with impoundment; and

The signing of an affidavit stating the owner understands the Ordinance and agrees to maintain compliance.

No confiscated dog shall be considered surrendered to the Confiscating party unless expressly surrendered, in writing, by the dog owner of his or her own volition, or adjudicated as forfeited as provided in the Pennsylvania Animal Cruelty Law after a hearing on the matter as provided in Section 4.

Section 4.Hearing.

The SPCA and its legal counsel have the responsibility to file a complaint with the Magisterial District Court alleging the violations of this Ordinance and prosecute the alleged violations in accordance with the Pennsylvania Animal Cruelty Law.

Any person alleged to have violated this Ordinance has the right to a hearing in front of a Magisterial District Judge for adjudication on the merits.

If, after a hearing in front of a Magisterial District Judge, a person is found to have violated this act may appeal the decision to the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

Section 5. Penalty.

Any person who violates any provisions of this chapter shall commit a summary offense, and shall, upon being found guilty by a Magisterial District Judge, after hearing, pay a fine not to exceed $500, together with all enforcement and shelter costs in the event a dog must be confiscated, and all court costs as permitted by law,

Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense, which shall be subject to prosecution as such. The maximum allowable fine where separate offenses are alleged and prosecuted at the same time is $2,500.

Section 6. Effective Date and Transfer of Power.

Pursuant to the transfer of power restriction Section 2963(2) of Title 53 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, the Effective Date of this Ordinance shall be March 1, 2017,

** – This text was added by Luzerne CART for clarification of all those with legal jurisdiction to enforce penalties. Luzerne CART has no legal authority to enforce this ordinance. Please contact your local police department or Luzerne County SPCA.

A significant number of families have pets and they need to be ready for a disaster too. Below are items to have ready to go in your pet emergency kit. Remember to have enough supplies for each of your pets. Most importantly each cat or dog needs their own crate or vari kennel.

Pet Preparedness Kit

Dog or cat food, dry or canned-one to two week supply. Can opener, spoon, dish.

Water—one to two week supply (include water purification tablets). Collapsible bowl that is easy to store.

Place the contents in a plastic storage box, tackle box or coffee can with lid. Pre-made pet first-aid kits are available for purchase at pet supply stores, pharmacies, retail and discount stores and online.

If evacuation is not possible, animal owners must decide whether to move large animals to shelter or turn them outside.

Take extra time to observe livestock, looking for early signs of disease and injury. Severe cold-weather injuries or death primarily occur in the very young or in animals that are already debilitated.

Animals suffering from frostbite don’t exhibit pain. It may be up to two weeks before the injury becomes evident as the damaged tissue starts to slough away. At that point, the injury should be treated as an open wound and a veterinarian should be consulted.

Make sure your livestock has the following to help prevent cold-weather problems:

Plenty of dry bedding to insulate vulnerable udders, genitals and legs from the frozen ground and frigid winds

Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team Press Release – Dec. 13, 2016

Keep Pets Safe During Dangerous Cold Snap

Harrisburg, PA – State officials are urging the public to take extra precautions to ensure the safety of their pets during a dangerous cold snap across much of the state over the next few days.

“While it’s easy to think that dogs are immune to cold because of their fur, the fact is that more dogs perish in the winter than at any other time of the year,” said Joel Hersh, executive director of the Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team (PASART.) “Some are better able to handle the cold than others, but a taking a few simple precautions can ensure an enjoyable winter experience for both pets and their people.”

Beware of cold temperatures. Many pets can be safe in outside temperatures with proper shelter, but puppies, smaller dogs, older dogs and cats should not be left outdoors when the temperature falls below 40 degrees.

Provide a protective shelter. If your dog or cat stays outside much of the time in the winter, his shelter needs to be raised a couple of inches off the frozen ground or concrete. The inside needs to have a blanket, cedar shavings or straw which should be changed frequently to keep him warm and dry. Add a flap to the door, and face the shelter away from the weather. The size of the shelter should be large enough so your pet can sit and stand, but small enough so his body heat will be retained in the house. Use a plastic water bowl to ensure your pet’s tongue does not get stuck to cold metal, and change the water often to keep it from freezing.

Keep older, arthritic pets inside. These animals should not be left outside under any circumstances. Escort the older dog outside for toileting and use a leash if the yard has ice or snow. Older dogs can easily fall and seriously injure themselves.

Watch for signs of frostbite and injury. Dogs’ ears, paws and tails are especially susceptible to frostbite. If you suspect frostbite, contact your veterinarian. If your dog plays on ice or hard, frozen dirt, his paws are susceptible to cuts as his paws slide across these rough surfaces. Always wipe your dog’s feet after a walk in the snow to remove ice balls and salt deposits from the road. Salt irritates a dog’s paws and can be toxic if ingested. Use only pet-safe ice melt.

Keep an eye out for hypothermia. If you notice shivering, lethargy, low heart rate and unresponsiveness, bring your pet into a warm area, place a light blanket over him, and call your veterinarian.
Eliminate the possibility of poisoning. Unfortunately, dogs like the sweet taste of antifreeze, which can cause sickness or even death if ingested. Make certain that all antifreeze containers are well out of reach of dogs and thoroughly clean any spills immediately.

Keep your dog on a leash. Dogs rely heavily on a strong sense of smell to figure out where they are and can easily get lost during winter storms. Snow covering the ground will make their surroundings less familiar. Keeping your dog on a leash at all times – especially during winter storms – can help stop your dog from becoming lost. Also talk to your veterinarian about micro-chipping your dog, just in case.

Don’t leave your dog inside of a parked car. Most people know this rule for the summer. A parked car can quickly amplify the effects of extreme weather. During the winter it can act as an icebox and trap cold air inside.

The commonwealth’s ReadyPA campaign encourages citizens to take three basic steps before an emergency occurs to ensure the safety of all family members: Be Informed, Be Prepared, Be Involved. More detailed information, including downloadable emergency kit checklists and emergency plan templates, is available online at www.ReadyPA.org.

About CARTs: County Animal Response Teams (CARTs) were formed as an initiative of the PA State Animal Response Team (PASART), a private non-profit organization which receives the majority of its funding from the federal government through the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). CARTs consists of volunteers from all walks of life – from experienced emergency responders, veterinary technicians, animal trainers and handlers to other men and women concerned with the welfare of animals. CARTs are based on the principals of the Incident Command System developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and involve a coordinated effort of government, corporate and animal organizations. For more information regarding Pennsylvania CARTS visit www.pasart.us.

Horses Require Extra Consideration In Disaster Planning:

Animal emergencies create danger for animals and their owners. Lack of preparation often leads to unnecessary tragedy, human injury, and economic loss. Pennsylvania is home to millions of agricultural and domestic animals. The Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team encourages all horse owners to evacuate with their animals to prevent endangering human and animal lives.

By remembering to include your horses as part of your family’s emergency evacuation plan, you can avoid those last minute decisions that could endanger the safety of your family and horses. A good disaster plan is vital to keeping yourself and your animal companions safe. But horses require extra consideration because of their size and specific transportation needs. Since you won’t have much time to think or act during an emergency, take time now to create an effective emergency plan.

Planning For A Disaster Involving Horses:

Permanently identify each horse by tattoo, microchip, brand, or photograph. In your records, include the horse’s age, sex, breed, and color. Keep this information with your important papers.

Keep halters ready for your horses. On each halter attach a luggage tag with the following information: the horse’s name, your name, email address, your telephone number, and another emergency telephone number where someone can be reached. At the time of evacuation, consider additional temporary identification such as a leg band.

Place your horses’ Coggins tests, veterinary papers, identification photographs, and vital information—such as medical history, allergies, and emergency telephone numbers (veterinarian, family members, etc.)—in a watertight envelope. Store the envelope with your other important papers in a safe place that will be easy for you to access, so you can take them with you when you and your horses evacuate.

Make arrangements in advance to have your horse trailered in case of an emergency. If you don’t have your own trailer or don’t have enough room in your trailer for horses, be sure you have several people on standby to help evacuate your horses.

Horse Evacuation:

It is important that your horses are comfortable being loaded onto a trailer. If your horses are unaccustomed to being loaded onto a trailer, practice the procedure so they become used to it.

Know where you can take your horses in an emergency evacuation. When possible, make arrangements with a friend or another horse owner to stable your horses well beyond the region at risk. Contact your local animal care and control agency, agricultural extension agent, or local emergency management authorities for information about shelters in your area.

If You Cannot Evacuate With Your Horse:

Have a back-up plan in case it’s impossible to take your horse with your when you evacuate. Consider different types of disasters and whether your horses would be better off in a barn or loose in a field. Your local humane organization, agricultural extension agent, or local emergency management agency may be able to provide you with information about your community’s disaster response plans.

Share your evacuation plans with friends and neighbors. Post detailed instructions in several places—including the barn office or tack room, the horse trailer, and barn entrances—to ensure emergency workers can see them in case you are not able to evacuate your horses yourself.

When Disaster Strikes:

Don’t leave your horse behind. A situation that isn’t safe for you won’t be safe for your equine companion, either.

Evacuate immediately. If you wait until the last minute to evacuate, emergency management officials may tell you that you must leave your horses behind. In this case, your horses could be unattended for days without care, food, or water.

Supplies For Horses:

The following items are recommended for inclusion in a disaster kit specifically for horses. Make one kit for each horse in your care.

Food and Water:

One-week supply of the food or special feed your horse is used to eating. Store in an airtight, waterproof container and rotate every three months to ensure freshness

One-week supply of water, stored in a cool, dark location. 50-gallon barrels are good for storing water

If tap water is not suitable for humans to drink during a disaster, it is also not suitable for cats to drink

Feeding and water buckets

Cleaning and Sanitation:

One-week supply of dry shavings to be spread out in the horse’s stall

Pitch fork, wheelbarrow and/or muck bucket

Maintaining a clean environment for horses during a disaster minimizes the threat of disease

Housing and Transportation of Horses:

A horse trailer and a truck that can safely pull it, in case you have to evacuate. Conduct periodic safety checks of the the floor of the trailer, the trailer hitch, tires and lights.

Rope to tie out your horse in case you don’t have access to a stable. (train your horse to tether before disaster strikes)

Halter and lead rope, preferably not made of nylon, which can melt in the event of a fire.

Pre-identified locations where you can evacuate your horses, such as equine centers, boarding stables, racetracks, and fairgrounds.

Because horses are so large, significant advanced planning is required to evacuate and shelter them temporarily in case of disaster. If you don’t have a trailer or enough trailer space for the number of horses you have, work out ahead of time other arrangements for transporting your horse(s). Identify friends or relatives who could help, or transportation services available for hire.

It takes time to move larger animals. If disaster is imminent, allow plenty of time to get them to safety. Do not wait until the last minute. If you have a horse who is not accustomed to being in a trailer, practice loading and unloading with the horse as part of your regular routine.

Set up a “buddy system” with a fellow horse owner so you can evacuate each other’s animals if one of you is out of town when disaster strikes.

Lessons From Past Disasters Involving Horses:

Kidney Failure – Due to dehydration, wandering animals were deprived of water for days.

Electrocution – Horses sought the lowest areas, in many cases this was a drainage ditch. The power lines that were blown down during the storm were strung over drainage ditches.

Fencing Failure – Wandering animals, although unharmed during the storm, were hit and killed on the roadways.

Sinkholes:

One of the very common calls we receive is a horse has fallen into a sinkhole that developed after a big rain fall. We recommend to inspect your grounds for sinkholes after any type of substantial amount of rain fall. Doing this periodically must just save your horses life.

Information Credit:

The information above about Disaster Preparedness for Horses is a combination of information provided by the organizations listed below.

The Luzerne County Animal Response Team is looking to prepare our community for emergencies involving large animals such as horses, cows, pigs and sheep. Members of our team have taken Large Animal Rescue Training and are looking to add some of the necessary large animal rescue equipment to our available resources. One of the most important tools is a device called the Becker Sling. The Becker Sling is designed to help extract animals that have fallen into holes or ditches, as well as pools or any other circumstance requiring an extra effort to lift them back to safety.

Photo courtesy of Davis Hill & Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences.

Another component to the large animal rescue equipment is a Large Animal Rescue Glide. This glide is used to help move an animals from wherever they are stuck or have fallen to a safer location. Below is an image of what the glide looks like and you can also see it in the above image as well.

Photo Credit www.rescueglides.com

For Animal Emergencies Dial 911

Below you will find information on how you can donate to help us purchase these amazing tools. We cannot do this without your help, please donate.

Monetary Donations can be made directly to the address below, or you may contact us for more information.

Donations are tax deductible. PASART is a private, 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and all donations are tax deductible.

If you would like to make a donation online, please click the Donate button shown below:

On the Review Your Donation page, please click the link “Enter any donation restrictions below:” and then enter Luzerne County Animal Response Team or LuzerneCART in the box. Then click the Donate Now button at the bottom of the page.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Monday, January 26, 2015

Livestock Protection: Large animals, such as cattle, horses, sheep and goats, also need help with winter weather. Cattle stay warm by increasing their heart rate, respiration and blood flow. This is why livestock need to increase their feed intake during the winter months. Keeping outdoor animals dry and warm is key. If fur is wet and matted, it loses its insulating qualities. Shelter should be windproof and insulated. Providing bedding of straw, hay or blankets will provide extra warmth

About CARTs: County Animal Response Teams were formed as an initiative the PA State Animal Response Team (PASART) a private non-profit organization which receives the majority of its funding from the federal government through the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). CARTs consists of volunteers from all walks of life – from experienced emergency responders, veterinary technicians, animal trainers and handlers to other men and women concerned with the welfare of animals. CARTs are based on the principals of the Incident Command System developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and involves a coordinated effort of government, corporate and animal organizations. For more information regarding Pennsylvania CARTS visit www.pasart.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Monday, January 26, 2015

With the frigid temperatures quickly approaching, PASART encourages all residents of the Commonwealth to take precautions when using space heaters. According to the U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA’s) National Fire Incident Reporting System, national estimates for the leading reported causes of fires in residential buildings for 2012, the most recent year data is available, are: Cooking fires at 182,000 fires and second, heating fires at 45,200 fires.

The leading factor contributing to home heating fires was failure to properly clean heating equipment, primarily chimneys before use. Placing things that can burn too close to heating equipment or placing heating equipment too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattress, or bedding, were among the leading factors contributing to ignition in fatal home heating fires and accounted for more than half of home heating fire deaths. In the event of a fire, your pets need protection as much as the rest of the family. Here is a list ofsome things you can do in your home…

Be sure you have working smoke detectors on every level of your home.

Have an emergency exit plan that includes your pets, and practice the plan regularly.

Make sure pets always wear identification

Research a safe place to take your pets.

Assemble a disaster kit.

Give a key to a trusted neighbor.

Ask your local fire department if they carry pet oxygen masks on their fire trucks.

Listen to your dog.

About CARTs: County Animal Response Teams were formed as an initiative the PA State Animal Response Team (PASART) a private non-profit organization which receives the majority of its funding from the federal government through the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). CARTs consists of volunteers from all walks of life – from experienced emergency responders, veterinary technicians, animal trainers and handlers to other men and women concerned with the welfare of animals. CARTs are based on the principals of the Incident Command System developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and involves a coordinated effort of government, corporate and animal organizations. For more information regarding Pennsylvania CARTS visit www.pasart.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Monday, January 26, 2015

While it’s easy to think that dogs are immune to cold because of their fur, the fact is that more dogs perish in the winter than at any other time of the year. Some are better equipped to handle the cold weather than others. Frostbite, hypothermia and antifreeze poisoning present the biggest winter threats to pets. By taking a few precautions and using common sense, pet owners can keep their dogs safe this winter.

Beware of cold temperatures. While many pets can be safe in outside temperatures with proper shelter (see below), puppies, smaller dogs, older dogs and cats should not be left outdoors when the temperature falls below 40 degrees.

Watch for signs of frostbite and injury. Dogs’ ears, paws and tails are especially susceptible to frostbite. If you suspect frostbite, contact your veterinarian. If your dog plays on ice or hard, frozen dirt, his paws are susceptible to cuts as his paws slide across these rough surfaces. Always wipe your dog’s feet after a walk in the snow to remove ice balls and salt deposits from the road. Salt irritates a dog’s paws and can be toxic if ingested. Use only pet-safe ice melt.

Keep an eye out for hypothermia. If you notice shivering, lethargy, low heart rate and unresponsiveness, bring your pet into a warm area, place a light blanket over him, and call your veterinarian.

Eliminate the possibility of poisoning. Unfortunately, dogs like the sweet taste of antifreeze, which can cause sickness or even death if ingested. Make certain that all antifreeze containers are well out of reach of dogs and thoroughly clean any spills immediately.

Keep older, arthritic pets inside. These animals should not be left outside under any circumstances. Escort the older dog outside for toileting and use a leash if the yard has ice or snow. Older dogs can easily fall and seriously injure themselves.

Provide a protective shelter. If your dog or cat stays outside much of the time in the winter, his shelter needs to be raised a couple of inches off the frozen ground or concrete. The inside needs to have a blanket, cedar shavings or straw, which should be changed frequently to keep him warm and dry. Add a flap to the door, and face the shelter away from the weather. The size of the shelter should be large enough so your pet can sit and stand, but small enough so his body heat will be retained in the house. Use a plastic water bowl to ensure your pet’s tongue does not get stuck to cold metal, and change the water often to keep it from freezing.

Supply fresh water. Use a plastic water bowl to ensure the dog’s tongue does not get stuck to cold metal, and change the water often to keep it from freezing.

Provide an appropriate amount of food. If your dog remains active in winter, he’ll burn more calories in the cold—and needs about 10 percent more food to compensate. If your dog becomes
less active in the winter, try to keep him from gaining extra weight by cutting back his food and making sure you continue going for walks and playing with him.

Keep your dog on a leash. Dogs rely heavily on a strong sense of smell to figure out where they are and can easily get lost during winter storms. Snow covering the ground will make their surroundings less familiar. Keeping your dog on a leash at all times – especially during winter storms – can help stop your dog from becoming lost. Also talk to your veterinarian about micro-chipping your dog, just in case.

Don’t leave your dog inside of a parked car. Most people know this rule for the summer. A parked car can quickly amplify the effects of extreme weather. During the winter it can act as an icebox and trap cold air inside.

Livestock Protection: Large animals, such as cattle, horses, sheep and goats, also need help with winter weather. Cattle stay warm by increasing their heart rate, respiration and blood flow. This is why livestock need to increase their feed intake during the winter months. Keeping outdoor animals dry and warm is key. If fur is wet and matted, it loses its insulating qualities. Shelter should be windproof and insulated. Providing bedding of straw, hay or blankets will provide extra warmth.

With the frigid temperatures quickly approaching, PASART encourages all residents of the Commonwealth to take precautions when using space heaters. According to the U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA’s) National Fire Incident Reporting System, national estimates for the leading reported causes of fires in residential buildings for 2012, the most recent year data is available, are: Cooking fires at 182,000 fires and second, heating fires at 45,200 fires.

The leading factor contributing to home heating fires was failure to properly clean heating equipment, primarily chimneys before use. Placing things that can burn too close to heating equipment or placing heating equipment too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattress, or bedding, were among the leading factors contributing to ignition in fatal home heating fires and accounted for more than half of home heating fire deaths.

In the event of a fire, your pets need protection as much as the rest of the family. Here is a list of some things you can do in your home…

Be sure you have working smoke detectors on every level of your home.

Have an emergency exit plan that includes your pets, and practice the plan regularly.

Make sure pets always wear identification

Research a safe place to take your pets.

Assemble a disaster kit.

Give a key to a trusted neighbor.

Ask your local fire department if they carry pet oxygen masks on their fire trucks.

Listen to your dog.

About CARTs: County Animal Response Teams were formed as an initiative the PA State Animal Response Team (PASART) a private non-profit organization which receives the majority of its funding from the federal government through the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). CARTs consists of volunteers from all walks of life – from experienced emergency responders, veterinary technicians, animal trainers and handlers to other men and women concerned with the welfare of animals. CARTs are based on the principals of the Incident Command System developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and involves a coordinated effort of government, corporate and animal organizations. For more information regarding Pennsylvania CARTS visit www.pasart.us

About Us

The Luzerne County Animal Response Team provides emergency shelter and rescue to animals in times of disaster, both natural and man-made. Luzerne CART is extension of the Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team and is tasked with responding to animals in emergencies like car accidents, house fires and floods. Our team sets up animal shelters, if an evacuation occurred for a disaster like a flood. We also do technical rescue for both small and large animals. We are an all volunteer group that is dispatched through the 911 call center.
Over 63% of households across the US have at least one pet.
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